tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:17:38 +0000Ted Nelson, the inventor of the term 'hypertext', once used the word 'virtuality' to refer to the "conceptual structure" of an electronic literary system in which ideas could be freely exchanged and linked to one another. (Wikipedia) This is exactly what this blog will try to be.http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/index.shtmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)Blogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-6858340647626040379Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:36:00 +00002009-12-08T22:46:55.456+01:00It has been a long time since I last blogged. Sometimes I looked back at the last entry and said to myself: it should NOT be the last entry. In the meantime Twitter came about, and I started micro-blogging. My nick is TechTinu. You can now follow me on Twitter with interesting technology-related, and not-so tech related, tweets on a regular basis. So there you are, blogging again, but not over http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2009/12/micro-rather-than-full-blogging.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-7252770333910590252Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:49:00 +00002007-12-20T10:53:39.379+01:00This blog has not been update for a long time. There are various reasons for this. What I can say is that the blog will be revamped in the near future to provide a better point of reference on ICT. Until then, good bye and good luck!http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2007/12/taking-rest-or-what.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-7917072327715081684Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:29:00 +00002007-07-02T12:06:43.590+02:00I have just published an interview with the Minister for IT Austin Gatt on e-learning. This is the full text of the interview. An abridged version was published on i-Tech, the IT supplement of The Times.The interview:1. First we heard a lot about learning ICT skills in view of SmartCity, and now we have started to hear a lot about learning through ICT. What’s the difference? If you want to earn http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2007/07/dawn-of-e-learning-in-malta.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-717268869625025497Wed, 02 May 2007 11:47:00 +00002007-05-02T13:53:58.688+02:00The vendor-specific courses offered by the local training providers satisfies by and large the demand for ICT skills posed by service providers but there is still a shortage of high-quality ICT resources. Service providers also want a mix of knowledge and practical skills whereas training providers focus more on the former.This is the picture that emerges from a study on the demand and supply of http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2007/05/strengths-and-weaknesses-of-ict-skills.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-9094107664108529792Tue, 10 Apr 2007 17:47:00 +00002007-04-10T20:04:51.889+02:00Public and private investment in information and communication technology (ICT) is bearing fruit, finds the Commission's annual progress report on i2010 – the digitally-led strategy for growth and jobs. Technology is fuelling innovation and productivity, and there are signs of fundamental change in markets and user behaviour, as Europe moves towards a knowledge-based economy.The country factsheethttp://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2007/04/malta-shows-mixed-performance-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-7203883447291095182Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:48:00 +00002007-03-19T21:57:36.722+01:00Forget the icon of the white, box-shaped computer, think networked processors, collaborating with each other to perform defined tasks, without human intervention. This is pervasive computing."This explanation is the introduction to a document brimming with insights, ideas and future scenarios on the significant developments in information technology in the next few years and how these will have http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2007/03/our-daily-lives-will-be-run-by-small.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-116620279478962628Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:04:00 +00002006-12-15T18:13:14.806+01:00There are a number of opportunities for joint research projects between Maltese organisations and IBM, especially within the framework of the European Union's FP7 funding.These are being followed up by the Ministry for IT. The opportunities were explained during a two-day visit by a Maltese delegation to IBM Industry Solution Labs in Zurich, Switzerland.Members of the delegation hailed from the http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2006/12/interesting-experience-at-ibms-zurich.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-116393175814117639Sun, 19 Nov 2006 10:14:00 +00002006-11-19T11:22:38.156+01:00One of the reasons I love blogs is they are not bound by time and space. They have a strong time and space bias in their favour, something which a newspaper does not time. This is much more marked in the case of a weekly newspaper supplement, such as i-Tech on The Times.I am publishing the full interviews with Maltagirl and Sabine Cassar Alpert. Excerpts from these were published in the articlehttp://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2006/11/interview-with-two-malta-related.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-116353627473543193Tue, 14 Nov 2006 20:22:00 +00002006-11-14T21:31:14.740+01:00My colleague Robert Micallef has won the e-journalism category of the Malta Journalism Awards, sponsored by HP and organised by the Institute of Maltese Journalists. Well done Rob! His winning submission were from his Wired Temples blog on MaltaMedia.comThis is the third time out of the four that MaltaMedia.com won the e-journalism category sincd its inception. The other winners are me and http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2006/11/they-have-taken-notice-of-blogs-at.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-116326760156342850Sat, 11 Nov 2006 17:50:00 +00002006-11-14T21:22:17.633+01:00Two weeks ago the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) held an information seminar in collaboration with the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) to discuss the new e-tourism portal.The portal, a sort of one-stop shop for potential tourists to book on internet all the services they need to enjoy their stay in Malta, was announced last April by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi at the end of a http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2006/11/looking-forward-to-e-tourism-booking.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-116102890964487886Mon, 16 Oct 2006 20:00:00 +00002006-10-17T10:02:17.830+02:00In the run-up to this year's Information Technology and Telecommunications (IT&T) Fair, consumers were bombarded with mixed messages. While the organisers promoted the event, one of the major IT vendors in the country, who was a main sponsor of the same fair in the last couple of years, showered radio listeners and put up billboards declaring it has special offers but also insisting "We are not http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2006/10/we-are-not-at-it-fair.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-115902203962543550Sat, 23 Sep 2006 14:30:00 +00002006-09-23T16:33:59.643+02:00 The hidden cost of wireless communicationFor the last few weeks some Maltese mobile users have enjoyed 3G mobile communication, the new service that allows video telephony, faster internet access and interactive service on mobile phones. After the launch of Vodafone's network in mid-August, Go Mobile is expected to follow in the coming weeks.Behind the glitter and glamour of 3G hides the http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2006/09/hidden-cost-of-wireless-communication.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-115710457818377829Fri, 01 Sep 2006 09:44:00 +00002006-09-01T11:56:18.216+02:00Despite its politicians, the Mafia and excessive love for football, Italy remains ‘il Bel Paese’. You eat well, you can immerse into culture and the sun shines a lot. People are friendly too. No wonder Italy is one of the premier traditional tourism destinations in the world. I am back from a week in Florence with excursions to Venice, Pisa and the Tuscan hills full of olive trees and with the http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2006/09/lessons-from-il-bel-paese.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-115332141021759146Wed, 19 Jul 2006 14:54:00 +00002006-07-19T17:03:30.280+02:00My mum Jane died last Friday. I was informed she was in hospital on Monday through an SMS during Roger Water's concert. She was 61. How I wish, how I wish you were here.We're just two lost soulsSwimming in a fish bowl,Year after year,Running over the same old ground.What have we found?The same old fears.Wish you were here. (Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd)http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2006/07/wish-you-were-still-here-part-2-most.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-115270784166523494Wed, 12 Jul 2006 12:03:00 +00002006-07-12T14:37:21.726+02:00What a roller-coaster ride of emotions! The ticket I paid for the Roger Waters 'experience' (it was much more than a concert), was the best money I have ever invested in music. Then, a few hours later, the death of Pink Floyd co-founder Syd Barrett was announced, apparently it happened before the concert.Roger did not say anything during the concert. However there was a special feeling in the http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2006/07/wish-you-were-still-here.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-114935114154196623Sat, 03 Jun 2006 16:12:00 +00002006-06-03T18:12:21.563+02:00The first World Cup I have vivid memories of is the 1982 edition in Spain when I was 10 years old. It was the first time I realised and felt the passion of football, watching Kevin Keegan's vain attempts to put a goal past the Spanish goalkeeper to qualify to the second round when Spain were already out. England's sad elimination was too much for my father to stomach, literally, and at home we http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2006/06/bitter-sweet-chalice-of-world-cup.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-114858657253599971Thu, 25 May 2006 19:40:00 +00002006-05-25T21:53:25.533+02:00Toni Sant is basking in his own unexpected fortune-teller fortune. He correctly predicted Lordi will win the Eurovision and so they did.I did smell the coffee, the one brewed by www.votelordi.org that contributed to Lordi's success. Indeed it seems the band's use of technology proved their success and the lack of it part of Malta's downfall.This is the full interview I conducted this week withhttp://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2006/05/he-told-us-so-so-whats-next.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-113914059513452709Sun, 05 Feb 2006 11:46:00 +00002006-02-05T12:59:17.263+01:00The people have spoken. Thus, the gods have spoken, for according to the Romans, what people want is what the gods want. As long as the people get their bread and circus.This week the Maltese got a good dose of circus but not bread. They chose to put a religious figure on the new Euro coins which will fill out pockets in two years’ time. Then they chose Fabrizio Faniello to represent Malta for http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2006/02/vox-populi-vox-dei.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-113499791317572894Mon, 19 Dec 2005 15:06:00 +00002005-12-19T14:38:33.063+01:00Imagine one hot August Sunday afternoon 13 years ago. Everyone is either having the afternoon nap, sun-bathing on the beach or abroad. Lethargy is rampant. It’s the peak of summer. Only a poof fellow, albeit in an air-conditioned environment, is checking and re-checking the radio station’s newsroom fax machine (there was no Internet at the time in Malta) for any breaking news.With a mere http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2005/12/very-human-side-of-news-media.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-113484051927547045Sat, 17 Dec 2005 17:27:00 +00002005-12-17T19:09:25.783+01:00Real Virtuality has moved to a new address.It is now at http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/The URL for the RSS feed has changed too. It is now at http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/atom.xmlhttp://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2005/12/new-url-adjust-your-rss-feed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-113430310013101886Sun, 11 Dec 2005 11:43:00 +00002005-12-11T13:11:40.143+01:00Each time I am invited to give a talk or a lecture about electronic journalism or the Internet, I get excited. I admit I get carried away in the true style of an evangelist who gets his audience mesmerised but the effects of his words wear out quite quickly as the audience leaves the meeting room or hall.I have been repeating over and over ageing for years now Internet is changing the shape of http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2005/12/we-are-still-walking-alone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-113372372032414632Sun, 04 Dec 2005 19:10:00 +00002005-12-04T20:15:20.333+01:00In Maltese we have the saying “nispiccaw bil-God Save the Queen” (ending with the God Save the Queen, the British national anthem), which is used to highlight the fact that something had ended in a bad way.It’s further proof of our colonial roots. Some say we Maltese are still a colony, at least in the way we look at ourselves in the mirror. Going back through our history we see the Maltese at http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2005/12/god-save.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-113320961300933680Mon, 28 Nov 2005 20:23:00 +00002005-11-28T21:26:53.016+01:00Thank God we are past CHOGM without a scratch.At the end of their meetings the Commonwealth leaders issued the so-called Malta Declaration. It looks good on paper and maybe not so good for the Maltese coffers. Read the full entry in Wired Temples.I thank Toni Sant for getting me hooked on blogging and Robert for giving me the space to take my first steps. I will now continue in this personal http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2005/11/day-after.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-113303368246276527Sun, 27 Nov 2005 20:24:00 +00002005-11-27T12:20:43.416+01:00CHOGM is synonymous with pomp, circumstance and bla bla. But there’s another important connection: naked women. CHOGM is not just a good time to expose other countries’ misbehaviour, as in the case of Uganda this year or Pakistan in the past. You may also get a woman ending up showing her breast in true Janet Jackson style.Read the full entry in Wired Temples.http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2005/11/chogm-exposed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19186751.post-113295860257294112Fri, 25 Nov 2005 22:41:00 +00002005-11-26T00:20:39.273+01:00George Best was simply the best explosive mixture you can get. He scored fantastic goals on the pitch but made one crucial own-goal away from it that cost him his life a few hours ago.George Best was already in the nadir of his footballing career when I was born. I can only appreciate what he did from footage shown now and then. Read my full entry on Wired Temples.http://www.martindebattista.com/blog/2005/11/simply-best.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Martin Debattista)0